Senior Partner & Head of Private Client
Chris Daynes
Chris is the firm’s Senior Partner and oversees the Private Client team.
Felix Appelbe
Consultant
Felix Appelbe is a Consultant with Streathers, bringing more than five decades of legal experience to clients across a remarkably broad range of matters. Qualifying as a solicitor in 1972, Felix enjoyed a distinguished career as a Partner and later Senior Partner at Ambrose Appelbe, one of London's longest-established legal practices based in Lincoln's Inn.
Throughout his career, Felix has advised individuals, families, businesses, charities and landowners on matters ranging from property transactions and commercial issues to trusts, estates and complex cross-border affairs. His approach reflects a traditional, trusted adviser role, offering clients practical guidance and long-term support throughout every stage of life.
Felix excels due to both his experience and his commitment to helping people. He describes his role as being akin to a private family doctor, providing trusted advice across a wide variety of legal and personal matters rather than specialising narrowly in a single field. Alongside his legal work, Felix remains actively involved in farming, charitable ventures and philanthropy, combining professional expertise with a genuine desire to make a positive impact on communities and future generations.
“The greatest privilege in legal practice is developing trusted relationships across generations, helping clients navigate challenges, seize opportunities and plan confidently for the future.”
Felix's approach is centred on understanding the wider picture, providing practical solutions and helping clients make informed decisions with confidence.
Experience
Felix brings over 50 years of legal experience to the table, with a career spanning an exceptional range of legal disciplines. His diverse practice has enabled him to support generations of families, businesses and charitable organisations through both everyday legal matters and significant life events.
Highlights of his career include:
- Serving as Partner and later Senior Partner of Ambrose Appelbe in Lincoln's Inn.
- Advising clients across a broad spectrum of legal disciplines, including conveyancing, litigation, trusts and estates, company matters, farming and landlord and tenant law.
- Acting as a Privy Council Agent and handling international legal matters through professional networks extending to Australia and beyond.
- Supporting and advising charitable organisations while personally running and overseeing several charities.
- Participating in the Solicitors Assistance Scheme and supporting access to legal guidance and community initiatives.
- Maintaining longstanding involvement with educational and charitable institutions, including service on the National Trust Council.
Beyond the Law
Alongside his role at Streathers, Felix runs a farm and devotes significant time to philanthropy and charitable work. He is particularly passionate about supporting educational initiatives, young musicians and wildlife conservation. These activities reflect the same values that have shaped his legal career: stewardship, community engagement and helping others thrive.
When not advising clients, Felix can often be found balancing life between the farm, charitable projects and the causes that continue to inspire him after more than fifty years in the profession.
Speak to Felix for a chat to start with a completely confidential, discreet conversation.
Felix’s specialisms
Residential and commercial property transactions
01Farms, estates and rural land matters
02Trusts, wills and estate planning
03Probate and Estate Administration
04Charity law and governance
05Court of Protection matters
06Including deputyship applications, applications for one-off decisions (e.g. buying/selling property, gifting), and generally advising Deputies and Attorneys
Landlord and tenant disputes
07Advising both landlords and tenants on contentious issues including rent arrears, lease interpretation, service charges, possession proceedings, and breach of covenant claims
Commercial and company matters
08Litigation and dispute resolution
09International and cross-border legal affairs
10Your team
Meet the experts
Partner & Head of Private Wealth Disputes
Gabriel Grant
Gabriel is a Partner and head of the Private Wealth Disputes department at Streathers Daynes Smith.
Paralegal
Lucy Bekheit
Lucy is a Paralegal within our Property and Private Client teams, specialising in residential conveyancing, probate, and estate planning.
Solicitor
Roger Boustred
Roger Boustred is a solicitor in our private client team, specialising in Wills, lasting powers of attorney, probate and trust work.
Solicitor
Charlotte Cossey
Charlotte Cossey is a Solicitor in our Private Client team, specialising in estate administration, wills, trusts, estate planning, and contentious private client matters.
Senior Associate
Blair Gould
Blair is a highly experienced Private Client Senior Associate with over 20 years' experience advising individuals and families on wills, probate, estate planning, trusts and elderly client matters.
Associate
Michael Hepburn
Michael is an Associate in our Private Client team, specialising in wills, Lasting Powers of Attorney, trusts and estate planning.
Paralegal
Jessica Jakhu Milton
Jess is a paralegal in our private client team, specialising in wills, probate, and property disposals arising from estate administration.
Paralegal
Giaan Lange
Giaan Lange is a paralegal in our Islington Private Client team, specialising in probate and estate administration, including complex and multi-jurisdictional matters, as well as providing support in estate and trust disputes.
Associate
Max Loble
Max is an Associate working across our Property and Private Client teams, with extensive experience in both areas.
Senior Associate
Elizabeth Manchester
Elizabeth is a Senior Associate in our Private Client team, specialising in probate and Court of Protection work.
Senior Paralegal
Emilija Mikutyte
Emilija Mikutyte is a dedicated paralegal in the Highgate Private Client team at Streathers Daynes Smith, specialising in probate matters with over six years of experience navigating various legal challenges.
Trainee Solicitor
Himani Pandya
Himani Pandya is a Trainee Solicitor in our Private Client team.
Senior Associate
Jacalyn Rosenfeld
Jacalyn Rosenfeld is a Senior Probate solicitor in our Private Client team, specialising in estate administration and complex probate matters
Solicitor
Claire Splawn
Claire is a Solicitor in our Private Client team, specialising in Probate, Cross Border Estates, Wills, Lasting Powers of Attorney and Trusts.
Paralegal
Lily Virtue
Lily is a paralegal in our Private Client team, specialising in wills, Lasting Powers of Attorney, and Probate.
Trainee Solicitor
Kate White
Kate White is a Trainee Solicitor in our Contentious Probate team, specialising in Trust and Estate disputes.
Trainee Solicitor
Hannah Whiterow
Hannah is a second year Trainee Solicitor. As part of her Training Contract, she has completed seats in Private Client and Family Law, and will go onto sit in Litigation and Commercial Property.
Solicitor
Arran Wilkinson
Arran Wilkinson is a solicitor in our Contentious Probate team, specialising in Trust and Estates Disputes.
